A History of Film Festivals In 100 Movies – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to a HOFF, in 100 movies episode 13 - Short Cuts by Robert Altman and the Venice International Film Festival (also known as the Biennale)

I’m excited to explore Altman's career, this terrific film, and a truly special event, the first film festival to ever take place.

Welcome back to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies - Episode 12.

Thirteen, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and the Locarno International Film Festival.

Thirteen Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2003, and Hardwicke won the Sundance Directing Award for the film.

The Locarno Film Festival is a top tier international film festival, held annually in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narrative, documentary, short, avant-garde, and retrospective programs.

We will be adding video clips, resource links and bonus materials to our On the Circuit Substack page Monday.

Welcome to a History of Film Festivals In 100 Movies, Episode 3 - Before Sunrise by Richard Linklater.

I’m your host, Jon Fitzgerald, and excited to explore this terrific film, and the Berlinale, one of the top film festivals in the world.

Ok, let’s dig into Episode 3.  

In 1995, Before Sunrise played the Sundance Film Festival and was well received, but it would have an even greater impact the following month, at the Berlinale, (which happens to be going on right now).

Welcome back to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies - Episode 2.

Memento, directed by Christoher Nolan. 

As with Sex Lies & Videotape, Memento is another great example of a low budget indie, taking film festivals by storm, and establishing an emerging filmmaker with a distinctive voice. 

We’re going to explore how his story intersects with one of the best film festivals in the World, by any measure, the International Film Festival Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, which happens to be going on RIGHT NOW!

To see the video clips and trailers, dive into the sources or read the full transcript, visit our On the Circuit substack page here.

Welcome to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies.  I’m excited to share our first episode - Episode 1 - Sex, Lies and Videotape, directed by Steven Soderbergh. 

If you ask industry professionals, like myself, who’ve been in the business for 35 years or more, they will agree this film may have had the greatest impact on the state of independent film, when it hit the festival circuit in 1989. We’re going to explore how and why in this episode.

The story of how this movie had such an influence is forever linked to the film festival world itself, and two of it’s top events.  Cannes and Sundance. 

Welcome back to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies - This is Episode 11: Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench - by Damien Chazelle, and the Tribeca Film Festival - which took place this past June. 

After this film had its World Premiere and Chazelle’s numerous accolades, he was on his way to a future indie smash at Sundance, box office success, and Oscar glory.

Tribeca Film was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2002 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of Lower Manhattan following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Until 2020, the festival was known as the Tribeca Film Festival.

For more info, resource links, and full transcript, visit our On the Circuit Substack page.

Welcome back to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies - This is Episode 10.

Pulp Fiction - by Quentin Tarantino, and the Cannes Film Festival (Part II) - which finishes up this weekend on May 25th.  We did cover part of the Cannes history with Wim Wenders, but thought we would share more today, as Pulp Fiction had such an impact at that Festival, 30 years ago in 1994. 

A big winner at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994, Pulp Fiction has had a major influence on the industry, filmmakers, and film festivals.

To see the clips, sources and read the full transcript, visit our  Substack page.

Welcome back to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies - This is Episode 9.

The Hurt Locker - by Kathryn Bigelow, and the Seattle International Film Festival - which runs In Theaters May 9–19 (yes going on RIGHT NOW) and Streaming May 20–27 

A big winner at SIFF, The Hurt Locker had an incredible run at the Oscars, which you will hear more about later. 

The Seattle International Film Festival (AKA SIFF) has become one of the top 5 film festivals in the United States, annually presenting over 250 films across the city, and will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.

To see the clips, sources and read full transcript, visit our substack page here.

Welcome back to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies - This is Episode 8. Paris, Texas - by Wim Wenders and the Cannes Film Festival, which runs May 14th - 25th, 2024.

A big winner at the Cannes Film Festival in 1984, Paris, Texas has had a major impact on filmmakers, musicians and arts culture.

And the Cannes Film Festival is one of the "Big Three" major European film festivals, alongside the Venice Film Festival in Italy and the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, as well as one of the "Big Five" major international film festivals, which consists of the three major European film festivals, the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, and the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, United States.

To see the clips, sources and full transcript, visit our substack page here.

Welcome back to A History of Film Festivals in 100 Movies - This is Episode 7.

The Thin Blue Line - by Errol Morris, and the Hot Docs Film Festival - which runs April 25 - May 5th here in 2024.

One of the most influential documentaries ever made, The Thin Blue line ranks on virtually the documentary lists.  And placed fifth on a Sight & Sound poll of the greatest documentaries.

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is the largest and most important documentary festival in North America, though they are about to face a great challenge as festivals evolve in this new era of exhibition.

To see clips, sources and full transcript, visit our substack page here.